Instructional yoga game and method of play

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a method of playing a yoga game. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of obtaining a playing surface sized to receive a person; wherein the playing surface further includes multiple spaces with illustrations of various yoga poses, obtaining a plurality of cards that have illustrations of various yoga poses; selecting a predetermined number of cards; mimicking an illustration of one of the selected cards, and mimicking the same illustration on the selected card without looking at the selected card.

CROSS REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application60/447,937 filed on Feb. 14, 2003, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a game for teaching yoga positions andin particular to an instructional game utilizing a mat and cards toteach the techniques and benefits of various yoga positions.

2. Description of the Related Art

A popular activity related to overall physical fitness and well-being isthe practice of yoga. Generally, yoga is the practice of controlledbodily movements usually accompanied with deep breathing. Various yogapositions provide the benefits of increased physical flexibility,strengthened and toned muscles, improved digestion, improved balance,relief of stress, improved concentration and reduced fatigue.

When yoga first became popular, the primary participants were adultshoping to improve their overall physical fitness and mental well-being.Yoga was considered an excellent opportunity to relieve tension andstress from an adult's fast-paced life. However, yoga can providephysical and mental benefits to all types of participants, includingchildren and disabled persons. Many children today are subjected to highlevels of stress and pressure to perform well in academic andextra-curricular activities. Furthermore, recent studies and reportshave illustrated the damaging results of fast-paced lifestyles, namelypoor nutrition and lack of physical activity that cause obesity, even inchildren.

Accordingly, programs are continuing to develop that help reverse thedamaging effects of fast-paced lifestyles. Classes focusing on improvednutrition and physical fitness are springing up in schools across thecountry. People are taking a renewed interest in promoting a healthylifestyle in hopes of developing good habits that their children willfollow for a lifetime.

The benefits and advantages of yoga align closely with a healthylifestyle and provide the same benefits to children as they do toadults. However, encouraging the practice of yoga with childrenencounters an additional set of obstacles. The practice of yoga mustcompete with the television, video games, and action-packed sports, suchas hockey and basketball, for the short attention span of the child.Furthermore, the various bodily positions commonly associated with yogamay be too challenging for young participants who have yet to fullydevelop control of their body.

Accordingly, there is a recognized need to teach children the techniquesand benefits of the practice of yoga while retaining their interest andencouraging physical accomplishments at an individualized pace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an instructional game that teaches thetechniques and benefits of yoga to participants, preferably children. Inan embodiment, the game includes a playing surface includingillustrations of various bodily poses and a plurality of cards havingtop and bottom faces. The top face of the cards includes illustrationsof various bodily poses, which may or may not correspond to the poses onthe playing surface. The game may also include a random selection deviceincluding a plurality of numbers and a plurality of correspondingactions. Methods for playing the game of the present invention are alsoprovided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a mat including multiple spaces withillustrations of various yoga positions;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top views of two examples of cards havingillustrations of various yoga positions;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views of two additional examples of cards havingillustrations of various yoga positions;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an action spinner of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a carrier holding components of the gameof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, an instructional game to teach the techniques andbenefits of yoga includes a playing surface 10 is provided. In anembodiment of the invention, the playing surface 10 is generally arectangular mat 10. The mat 10 may be a sticky yoga mat typically usedin the fitness industry for practicing yoga techniques. The mat 10measures generally twenty-four (24) inches wide by fifty (50) incheslong. A 24″×50″ mat 10 is typically considered an appropriate size for achild. An adult may utilize a larger mat 10. The size, shape and textureof the mat 10 are not limited to the descriptions given above.

Positioned around a peripheral edge of mat 10 are a plurality of spaces12. Each space 12 includes a printed boundary 14, a graphic illustrationof a bodily pose 16 and a title 18 of the pose 16. As shown in theembodiment of FIG. 1, the mat 10 includes twenty-four spaces 12 eachillustrating a different bodily pose 16. The number of spaces 12 is onlyillustrative and not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Therectangular center of the mat 10 remains clear of any printing and isused to practice the yoga techniques of the instructional game.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the game also includes a plurality of cards 20.In an embodiment, the cards 20 include top and bottom faces, with thetop faces being shown in the figures. The top faces are imprinted with aphotographic illustration of a bodily pose 22, a title 24 of the pose22, and a description 26 of executing the pose 22. The illustrationsdepicted on cards 20 are not intended to be limited to those shown anddescribed.

In an embodiment, the game includes twenty-four circular cardsillustrating twenty-four different bodily poses 22. Again, the quantityand shape of the cards are in no way limiting. Furthermore, the bodilyposes 22 illustrated on the cards 20 correspond to the bodily poses 16illustrated on the mat 10. However, there may be illustrations on cards20 that are not shown on the mat, or vice versa. The mat depicted oncards 20 is illustrated and colored to clearly represent the correctrelationship between the pose and the mat. The bottom face (not shown)may include an attractive decorative design to make the cardsinteresting and fun for a child.

Referring to FIG. 5, the game further includes a random selection device28, such as an action spinner 28. The action spinner 28 includes aplurality of numbers 30 and a plurality of actions 32. Each action 32corresponds to a predetermined number 30. The numbers 30 and actions 32are positioned in a circle about a dial indicator 34. A participant ofthe instructional game spins the dial indicator 34. The dial indicator34 eventually stops spinning and an arrow 36 at the tip of the dialindicator 34 points to a number 30 and corresponding action 32. In anembodiment, the action spinner 28 includes the numbers one through six.The action spinner 28 may also include actions 32 such as “smile”, “eyesclosed”, “moving”, “five breaths”, “eyes open”, and “still”.

In accordance with the present invention, the instructional game mayalso include at least one game piece (not shown) and a timing device(not shown). The game piece and timing device may be utilized in variousalternative embodiments for playing the instructional game to bedescribed in further detail below.

Referring to FIG. 6, the instructional game may be provided with acarrier 38. In an embodiment of the invention, carrier 38 is made ofclear plastic and includes a strap 40 for carrying the game. A zipper 42may also be provided for opening and closing the carrier 38. The carrier38 is able to store the various components of the instructional game,including the mat 10, the cards 20 and the action spinner 28.Additionally, a separate container for the cards 20 (not illustrated)may also be included. The carrier 38 is an optional feature to includewith the game and is not intended to limit the scope of the presentinvention.

There are several alternative methods for playing the instructional yogagame. Some methods are for a single participant and other are formultiple individual participants or teams. In preparation for playingany of the games, each participant may be instructed to perform warm-upbreathing exercises by breathing in and out slowly through his nose withhis mouth closed. For example, each participant should breathe at leastfive times in a comfortable seat position.

One example of a method for playing the instructional yoga game for asingle participant includes the use of the mat 10, the cards 20 and theaction spinner 28. In an embodiment, the participant shuffles the cards20 and selects a predetermined number of cards 20. The participant thenlooks at the cards 20, says the title of the pose 24 on the card 20 andperforms the pose 22 shown on the mat 10. Preferably, the participantholds the pose 22 for a predetermined number of breaths. Once the pose22 of each card 20 has been practiced, the participant turns over thecards 20 and practices the poses 22 on the mat 10 again without lookingat the cards 20. The goal is to memorize the various yoga poses 22. Tomake the game more challenging, the participant may include use of theaction spinner 28. After practicing the poses 22, the participant spinsthe action spinner 28 and incorporates the selected action 32 withperformance of the pose 22. The same action 32 may be performed witheach memorized pose 22 or a new action 32 may be selected for each card20. Alternative games that encourage a child to practice and memorizethe various bodily poses 16, 22 shown on the mat 10 or the cards 20 arealso contemplated by the present invention. The description of this onegame is not meant to limit the scope of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the instructional yoga gamealso includes methods for playing with multiple participants or teams.To simply learn the various bodily poses 16, 22 a leader may beselected. The leader may be selected with the assistance of the actionspinner 28 or other criteria such as the youngest or oldest participant,for example. The leader would select a card 20 and demonstrate the pose22 on the mat 10. When the leader recites a code word, such as“yogateers” each participant practices the pose 22 together around themat 10. When the leader recites the code word again, everyone sits downand the position of leader rotates to another participant in the group.The demonstration and group practice are repeated until all the cards 20have been utilized.

An alternative game includes the use of the mat 10 and the actionspinner 28. Each participant begins at a predetermined space 12 on themat 10. One of the participants may be selected to begin the game withthe use of the action spinner 28 or other criteria. The firstparticipant spins the action spinner 28 and moves a game piece (notshown) the selected number 30 and performs the bodily pose 16 shown onthe mat 10. The pose 16 is held for a predetermined time or number ofbreathes. To make the game more challenging, the participant alsoincorporates the action 32 corresponding to the selected number 20 whenperforming the pose 16. This sequence is repeated among the otherparticipants until one participant reaches a predetermined space 12marking the end of the game. As further alternatives, the participantscould utilize the timing device (not shown) or use their physical bodiesas a substitute for the game pieces (not shown).

A further example of playing the instructional yoga game with multipleparticipants includes the use of the action spinner 28 and the cards 20.In an embodiment, a first participant selects a predetermined number ofcards 20 and spins the action spinner 28 to select an action 32. Theparticipant then practices the poses 22 of each card while incorporatingthe action 32. The participant then turns over the cards 20 to avoidseeing the poses 22 and the game proceeds with another participant.After each participant has selected cards 20, selected an action 32 andpracticed their poses 22, play resumes with the first participant. Thefirst participant practices the poses 22 with the action 32 from memory.A fellow participant reviews the cards 20 for accuracy. If the firstparticipant correctly performs each pose 22 and action 32 theparticipant retains possession of the cards 20. However, if any of theposes 22 are performed incorrectly, the participant's cards 20 arereturned to the pile. Again, the game proceeds with another participant.After each participant attempts to perform the poses 22 from memory,play continues by repeating the sequence until all of the cards 20 havebeen retained by participants. The participant with the highest numberof cards 20 is deemed the winner.

Finally, other alternatives may be incorporated into the described gamesto make the games more exciting and interesting to the participants. Forexample, the games can be played as teams or by creating a yogasculpture by joining participants together in various poses 16, 22.Participants could be encouraged to learn and memorize the benefits ofeach pose 16, 22 or to determine the number of body parts that contactthe mat for each pose 16, 22. A participant could select a card 20 andperform the pose 22 on the mat 10 under a blanket (not shown) while theremaining participants attempt to guess the pose 16. Further suggestionsinclude a game with only two participants where one participant is aleader that demonstrates a pose 16, 22 while the second participantdemonstrates a mirrored image of the same pose 16, 22. Contemplated bythe present invention are any games or techniques that practice andteach the various poses 16, 22 of yoga.

The present invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative ofthe best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understoodby those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodimentsof the invention described herein may be employed in practicing theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the following claims. It is intended that the followingclaims define the scope of the invention and that the method andapparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents becovered thereby. This description of the invention should be understoodto include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements describedherein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application toany novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, theforegoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or elementis essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this ora later application.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A method of playing a game comprising: obtaining aplaying surface sized to receive a person thereon, wherein the playingsurface has multiple spaces with illustrations of various yoga posesthereon; obtaining a plurality of cards with illustrations of variousyoga poses; selecting a predetermined number of cards; mimicking anillustration on one of the selected cards; and mimicking the sameillustration on the selected card without looking at the selected card.25. A method of playing a game, as in claim 24, further including:obtaining a random selection device having a plurality of yoga actions;activating the random selection device to determine one of the pluralityof yoga actions; and performing the selected yoga action while mimickingthe illustration of the selected card.
 26. A method of playing a game,as in claim 24, further including repeating each of said steps forsubsequent players.
 27. A method of playing a game comprising: obtaininga playing surface having multiple spaces with illustrations of variousyoga poses; obtaining a plurality of cards with illustrations of variousyoga poses; selecting a leader from a group of participants; selectingone of the plurality of cards and having the leader mimic the yogaillustration on the selected card on the playing surface; andauthorizing all of the participants to mimic the yoga illustration onthe depicted card in response to the leader's performance.
 28. A methodof playing a game, as in claim 27, further including repeating each ofsaid steps for subsequent leaders.
 29. A method of playing a gamecomprising: obtaining a playing surface having multiple spaces withillustrations of various yoga poses; obtaining a random selection devicehaving a plurality of numbers and corresponding yoga actions; activatingthe random selection device to determine one of the plurality of numbersand corresponding yoga actions; mimicking one of the yoga illustrationson the playing surface while also performing the determined yoga action;and moving a game piece about the spaces of the playing surfacecorresponding to the determined number.
 30. A method of playing a game,as in claim 29, further including repeating each of said steps forsubsequent players.
 31. A method of playing a game comprising: obtaininga plurality of cards each having illustrations of various yoga poses;selecting a predetermined number of the cards; mimicking the yogaillustrations of each of the selected cards; memorizing the yogaillustrations of each selected card; mimicking the memorized yogaillustrations of each of the selected cards; retaining the selectedcards for mimicked memorized yoga illustrations that were correctlyperformed; and returning the selected cards for mimicked memorized yogaillustrations that were incorrectly performed.
 32. A method of playing agame, as in claim 31, further including repeating each of said steps forsubsequent players.